Humanity faced record-breaking temperatures from November 2022 through October 2023, running about 1.3 degrees above normal and marking a 125,000-year high, according to Climate Central (CC).
Data gathered by this American scientific organization from 175 countries show that about 99% of the planet’s population, roughly 7.8 billion people, were exposed to above-normal temperatures. Furthermore, 5.7 billion people experienced abnormally high temperatures for at least 30 days. (Climate Central)
“These temperatures are the hottest humans have experienced since we began building cities and living together in large groups”, stated Andrew Pershing, vice president of Climate Central and one of the study’s authors, at a press conference. (Climate Central)
“These are the hottest temperatures humans have experienced since we began building cities and living together in large groups.”
Regarding the surge in heat, Pershing noted that the 2023 data align with a long-term trend and attributed much of the rise to carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. (Climate Central)
Climate Central developed the Climate Change Index (CSI), a tool that measures how climate change alters temperature patterns and climate behavior. (Climate Central)
One month of hell
The study found that the climate crisis, driven by carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, has tripled the likelihood of these unusual temperatures occurring within the period from November 2022 to October 2023; this represents the third level on the CSI scale. (Climate Central)
In India, 1.2 billion people, about 86% of the population, were exposed to CSI level three heat for 30 days or more. In China, 513 million people, or 35% of the population, faced the same level. In the United States, 88 million people, or 26% of the total population, were affected. (Climate Central)
Countries such as Spain, Brazil, Mexico, France, the United Kingdom, Iran, Egypt, the Philippines, Japan, the Caribbean, and Central America saw almost the entire population exposed to the same level of temperatures for at least a month. (Climate Central)
Data on major cities showed Houston, Texas, recording the worst conditions with 22 consecutive days of extreme heat between July 31 and August 21. New Orleans, Jakarta, and Tangerang also experienced 17 consecutive days. (Climate Central)
Pershing warned that the situation is likely to worsen in 2024 as La Niña fades and El Niño gains strength. He noted that El Niño would intensify warming next year. (Climate Central)
Heat waves, heavy rains and droughts
Friederike Otto from the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and Environment at Imperial College London, who helped draft the study, cautioned that shifts in atmospheric composition drive heavier rainfall and more frequent droughts in different regions. She explained that warming allows the atmosphere to hold more water vapor, which must eventually descend as rain. (Grantham Institute)
The researcher added that the climate crisis has raised the likelihood of downpours by factors of up to 80 in some regions over the past year, with Nigeria, Algeria, and nearby areas experiencing these events. Pershing noted that several of the hottest months occurred in regions around the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Mediterranean—bodies of water highly exposed to extreme temperatures. He also warned that hotspots will shift yearly, concentrating in South America, the Caribbean, and Africa. (Climate Central)
Otto highlighted that Africa is facing an enormous number of extreme heatwaves, though these events are not consistently tracked or reported in many places. She emphasized that hotspots exist there, but public discourse often misses their impact. (Grantham Institute)
Grounding the discussion: Climate Central’s ongoing work on the planet’s hottest 12-month streak in 2023 continues to inform researchers and policymakers. (Climate Central)
Note: This article reflects the evolving understanding of how climate dynamics unfold across regions and seasons, with ongoing assessments from scientists and research centers. (Climate Central)
Data and figures referenced in this article come from Climate Central’s Climate Change Index (CSI) and companion analyses. For further context on regional heat patterns and their social implications, the Climate Central team maintains ongoing updates and regional briefings. (Climate Central)
— End of overview —